Fire-alarm-telegraph system.



F. W. COLE.

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION 21mm APR. 25,1908.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

v gage UNITED sTATEsrATENT OFFICE.

FiRETJERICK W. 'OOLE, OF NEWTON,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FIRE-ALARM-TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 20, 191i).

Application file'il April 25, 1908. Serial No. 429,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK \V. COLE, of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in F ire-Alarm-Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire-alarm telcgraph boxes and systems, and has for its object to provide the signal-boxes with means adapted to be set in condition to operate a distant signal, such for instance, a as suitable recervmg-instruments at the centrail-station, when the signal-transmitting -mechanism needs rewinding or its actuating spring has broken; also, to provide the signal-boxes with emergency means for operating a distant signal, such for instance, as a receiving-instrument at the centrahstation, when the signal-transmitting mechanism needs rewinding or its actuating spring ,has broken; also, to provide means at the central or receiving-station adapted to be connected with the circuit to indicate whether the signal-transmitting mechanism of any box in the circuit needs rewinding or its actuating spring has broken; also, to provide means .included in the circuit at the central-station,

for indicating when the signal-transmitting mechanism of anybon 1n the circuit needs rewindmg or its actuat1ngspring has Figure 1 isva diagram of an electric signal-system embodyingthis invention. Fi 2 is an enlarged detail of one form of signa transmitting mechanism pro'vided vith circuit-operating devices embodying this in 'vention. Fig. 3 is a detail showing a modified type of signahtransmitting mechanism and circuit-operating-devices embodying this invention. Fig. 4 is a detail showing one of the circuit-operating-devices only and the actuating-spring of a sigiahtransmitting mechanism arranged to set said circuitoperating device in condition to operate a distant signal. a

a represents the main electric circuit, 1) represents a receiving-instrm'nent at the central-sta-tion which is included in a normally opengr'ound branch circuit 6. The branch circuitb' is adapted to be connected through an automatic switch 5 of any well known l construction, with the main circuit at regular intervals of time for the purpose of' ascertaining the condition of the circuit or whether any of the s1gnal-boxes-1n the circuit need rewinding or require a new spring. The recciving-instrument b is herein represented as a relay, the armature of which may operate any suitable, audible signaling-device, not shown. In order to give information as to location of abnormal condition of 'the circuit, a visual-signal, such forinstance -ing instrument or instruments will be disconnected from the main circuit, but whenever it is desired to test the signal-boxes for the purpose of ascertaining whether any one of them needs rewinding 'or its spring has,brokcn, said switch b will be moved to. connect the ground branch circuit first with one side and then-with the other side of the main battery, or the automatic switch (1 represents a signal-receiving relay which is included directlyin the main circuit and is employed for regular signaling urposes, but is also adapted to be-operate by the emer ency circuit-operating devices in the sigma -boxes, to be hereinafter described.

e, 6 represent a number of signal-boxes arranged in the main circuit a. They are herein represented as fire alarm boxes of the closed circuit ty -e.

Referring to Big. 2 a well known form of si nal-t'ransmitting mechanism is shown w erein f is the actuating-s ring, f the windinq-shaftand f the signa -wheel which .is revo ved by the train and operates the c1rcu1t to transmlt the regular box-number signal. A pinion f is secured to the winding-shaft f which engages a gear wheel 7" havin a single wide tooth, which, when brouglit into engagement with the pinion limits its movement, said wheelf servin as the stop wheel. When the winding-she t is turned in one direction to wind the. s ring the stop wheel will be revolved in one, irection until one side of its wide. tooth engages the pinion and when turnedin the opposite has been direction said stop wheel will be revolved in l the opposite direction until the other side of its wide tooth engages the p nion.

.Referrmg to Fig. 3, the actuating-mechanisin of a sector-box is shown, which is another well-known term of signal-transmitting mechanism. In this instance the sector 9 is secured to the winding-shaft which engages a pinion gconnccted with the train and the spring 9 is attached to said winding-shaft.

In Fig. 2 the signal-transmitting mechanism is normally wound and adapted to be let ed by a suitable actuator whenever it is desired to, transmitthe signal, and in Fig. 3 the signal-transmitting mechanism is normally held under tension but is rewound each time the signal is transmitted,

My present invention is applicable to either, of these general types of s1gnaltransmittin'g mechanisms, as well as to other types, hence I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular form of signal-transmitting-mechanism which. may be employed;

Each signal-box is provided with a circuitoperating device adapted to connect a ground branch circuit with the main circuit when the signal-transmitting mechanism.

needs rewinding or when its actuating spring breaks, and is subsequently restored to normal position and said ground branch circuit disconnected from the main circuit when said mechanism is rew'ound or its actuating spring replacech'and each signal-box is also provided with another circuit-operating-device adapted to open and then close the main circuit when 7 the actuating-spring of the signal transmitting mechanism breaks or when the signal-transmit tin g-mechanism has run down to the danger point after being rewound. The last named circuit-operatingdevice is herein, termed an emergency circuit-operating-device to distinguish it from the first named circuitpperatmg-deVice and for the reason that it is oily called into operation-in case of an emergency. In fact, said emergency circuit-operating-device may be omitted if desired.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, h and h represent two contact ptns attached to blocks of insulating material. They overlie each other but are normally separated. 'They constitute the first named 'circuit-opeiating-device. The per. h is connectedwith a ground branch circuit 2, and the pen 7?. is connected with the main circuit a. The pen 7:. is movable into engagement with the pen h to con nect the ground branch circuit with the main circuit and to'provide for thus moving said mm, an actuatin -leverla. may be employed which is secure to a pivot-shaft h and i which extends u along-side of the you 72,, so

that when move on its pivot it wi l engage and move said pen. The actuating-lever is located in proximity to the actuating-spring eraser f of the signal-tisnsinitting niechanisni,; so as to be engaged and moved by said spring ',when the latter expands incident to the sigthe mechanism'has runpart way down. I

vice when setting it'in condition to cause the receiving-instrument at the central station to respond, but so far as my invention is con cerned any other part of the signal-transmitting-mechanism may be employed. Under ordinary conditions the receiving instrument at the central station will be connected in circuit at frequent intervals so that in case the circuit-operating-device of any one of the signal-boxes in the circuit should be set, said receiving-instrument will respond, and steps may be immediately taken to rewind or repair the signal-transmitting-mechanism of the box which caused the receiving-instrument/to operate. l

Referring to Fig. 4 thiscircuit-operating device only is shown comprising the two contact pens 72 and h, the former being arranged to be engaged and ,moved directly by-tlie actuating-spring of the signal-transmittingmechanism, and this modification shown for the purpose of illustrating the idea that this circuit-operating-device only may be employed for the carrying out of the essential part of my invention. However, in case it should so happen that the testing be connected with the circuit, as'often as required, or should be overlooked, and one of the signal-boxes should be permitted to run nearly down before it is rewound, the

brought into action. This emergency Circuit-operating-device consists of a. pair of contact pens j, ,4 attached to a block of incircuit a. They are arranged at opposite respectively with contacts adapted to be engaged by contacts on the opposite sides of said pen h as said pen is moved. Normally the pen h is in engagement with the pen 7 so that the main circuit is closed, but-when said pen h ismoved considerably it will first disengage the pen 7' and thereafter engage the pen 9', thereby momentarily opening the maih circuit and causing the receiving-in strument c at the central-station to respond, which in a fire alarm system will cause a arrang to follow and thereby remain in engagement with the contact pm 72. for a instrument at the central-station should not emergency circuit operating deviceqis sides of the contact pen h, and provided single blow to be struck onthe bells. The contactapen j'is made 'quite slender and is when several alarms have been sent or when I .7 5 prefer to employ the actuating-spring as the means for moving the circuit-operating-desulating material and connected to the main eraser an emergency actuator may be provided for the actuating-lever, consisting of a pin it on the stop ,wheel which is arranged to enga e an arm I secured to the ivot-shafth, an saidv pin can engage. sai arm lrl and move-the ac'tuatingdever it? just before the signal-transmitting-mechanism runs completely down. In case, therefore, that the test at the central-station should not be applied and the signal-transmitting-mechanism runs nearlyw'down, the actuating-lever It will be movedits full distance by the pin of the stop wheel and the emergency circuitoperating-device will be operated, calling attention to the fact. Furthermore, in case the actuating-spring of the signal-transmitting-mechanism breaks the actuating-lever 1h will be moved its full distance and the ground branch circuit will be connected with the main circuit and the emergency circuitoperating-device will also be operated.

Referring to Fig. 3 the emergency actuator ofthe emergency circuit-operating-device is omit-ted yet said circuit-operating-device is adapted to be operated by the breaking of the actuating spring.

,Having thus described my invention, what lclaim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a signal-box, signal-transmitting mechanism, a circuit-operating device, a

groundbranc'h circuitadapted to be connected withthe main circuit by said circuit-open ating device, means operated by said transmitting-mechanism when, "one or more alarms have been sent to connect the ground branch with the main circuit and operated by the winding-shaft when turned to rewind said'mechanism to restore said circuit-operating device and disconnect ,said ground branch from the main circuit, substantially as described.

'2. Ina signal-box, signal-transmittingmechanism having a BOXIlUmb6I circuitoperating device, a main circuit operated thereby, and another .circuit-operating-de- I vice for momentarily opening said circuit,

means operated by said transmitting-mechanism when one or more alarn s have been sent for operating saidlast-named circultoperating-device'to open and close said cir 1 cuit and when turne -to rewind said mechanism too erated by the winding-shaft restore said last-named circuit-operating-device to normal position, substantially as. described.

3. In. a signal-box, signal-transmittingmechanism, having a box-number circuitoperating device, another circuit-operatingdevice, means' operated byfsaid nicha'nisinf for setting said last-named circuit-operat ing-device in condition to operate a distant signal andoperated by the windingsh'a fh wi en turned to rewind saidmechanisirifor restoring-said last-named circuit-o crating device, and an emergency circuit-ogera'ting-l device, and means also operated .by said mechanisnn for operating said emergencyf circuit-opei'ating-device while the lastnamed circuit-operating device is set which is subsequently restored by the windingshaft when turned to rewind said mecha-. nism, substantially as described. I

4:. In a signal-box signal-transmitting a0 .mechanism, a circuit-operating device, a

ating device and disconnect saidxground branch from the main circuit, and anemergency circuit-0perating 'device for momentarily opening the main circuit, and means operator by said mechanism for operating said emergency circuit-operating device to open and close the main circuit which is sub--v sequently restored by the winding shaft when turned to rewind said mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In a signal-box, signal-transmittin 1 mechanism having a stop-wheel connected with its winding-shaft, and having a boxnumber circuit-operating device, and another circuit-opemting device disposed adjacent its actuating-spring which engaged and set by said spring in condition to operatea distant signlal and which is restored when said springtis re-wound, and an emergency circuit-operating device, and means operated by said 'stoowheel for operating said emergency circuit-operating device, which is subsequently restored when said stop-wheel is returned to normal position by re-winding the signal-transmitting mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In an electric signal system, an electric circuit connecting a signal-box with a central station, two receiving instruments at the central station, one included in the circuit nnd the other adapted to be connected with the circuit, signal-transmitting mechanis contained in the box having a boxnurhber circuit-operating device for operating one of; said receiving instruments, another circuit-operating device arranged in the box, and means operated by the signaltransmitting mechanism when one or more alarms have been sent for setting said lastnamed circuit-operating device in condition to operate the other receiving instrument 4 arose? have been sent for operating said last-nanied circuit-operatingidevice to open and close said circuit, and operated by the winding shaft when turned to rewind said 1nechanisni' to restore said last-named circuit-operating device to normal position, substantially as described.

S. In an electric signal system, a main ck 'i-ic circuit connecting several signalbox s with. a central-station, signal-trans initting mechanism in each box, a circuit-operating device in eachbox, a ground branch circuit at each box adapted to be connected with the main circuit. by the circuit-operat ing device therein, means operated by the sig'nal'transniitting mechanism in each box when one or more alarms have been sent by it. for moving the circuit-operating device therein to connect the ground branch circuit with the main circuit and operated. by the" winding-shaft when turned to rewind the tiansni tting-nieclianisni for restoring said circuit-operating device and disconnecting the ground branch from the main circuit, a.

groundbranch circuit at the central station;

a receiving-instrument included in said ,ground branch circuit, and means for connecting said ground branch circuit with the main circuit, substantially as described.

9. In an electric signal system, an electric circuit connecting a signal-box with a corn tral station, signal-transmitting mechanism contained in said box having a box-number circuit oper'ating device and another circuit-operating device, a ground branch circuit adapted to be connected with the main circuit by said last named circuit-operating device, means operated by. said transmitting mechanism when one or more alarms have been sent to operate said last-named circuitoperating device and connect the groundbranch with the main circuit and operated by the winding shaft when turned to rewind said mechanism to restore said last-named circuit-operating device and disconnectsaid ground branch from the main circuit, a re--- ceiving instrument at the central ,station and in the main circuit for receiving the box-nninber signals, a ground branch circuit at the central station, a receiving instrument included in said ground branch circuit, and. means for connecting" said ground branch circuit with the main circuit,substantially as described.

it), In an electric signal-system, an elec tric circuit connecting several signal-boxes with the central-station, two receivingdnstrunients at the centralestation, one included in the circuit and the other adapted to be connected with the circuit, two circuitoperating-devices ateach box for respectively operating said receiving-instruinents, and means operated by the signal transniitting mechanism of each box for setting one of the circuit-operating-devices iii condition to operate its receiving-instrninent and for subsequently operating the other circuit operating-device, and operatedby the winding-shaft when turned to rewind said trans initting-mechanism for restoring said cirenit-opcrating-devices, substantially as describe In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK Vi. COLE;

lVit-nesses B. :--=IIOIES,

I-I. DAVIS. 

